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Matt,

Couldn’t agree more with what you just said. The Yanks don’t know for sure if Chamberlain will succeed as a starter or not in the majors. It would be smarter to seeif he can succeed as a starter at the begiining of the season rather later in the season when games count more. IT would be dumb to start him in the pen that would be the wrong move. If he can’t hack it as a starter then move him to the pen where we all know he can succeed as a reliever and he can contribute more as an impact reliever when those games do count more. I like your rotation Matt, right now if Kennedy is going to be a starter for this team in the near future they are going to have to get him experience at the major league level and build his arm strength up, at least that would reduce the importance of limiting innings for him when he does become a starter. He will most likely be the long reliever/spot starter if he can’t break into the rotation. If he does then it will probably Mussina who fills that role. Horne and Marquez definitely have the ability to fill that role as well.

Who the heck said that Chamberlain wouldn’t be the starter at the beginning of the season? It would be a dumbe move to have him start the season in the pen. A smarter choice would be to have him start the season in the rotation ( as they have said they plan on doing ) and see if he can be a legit starter rather than have have him start in the pen and then move him into the rotation late in the season when games count only to find out that he may not have what it takes to be a starter. Horne and MArquez most likely could fill the role as well as they have better stuff and are more talented than Karstens by far as their stats indicate. However, if Mussina beats Kennedy (as Kennedy is not guaranteed a spot in the rotation with Chamberlain starting)out for a starting spot then Kennedy will be a better option than Karstens as well. So the starting rotation mostly likely will be Wang, Hughes, Pettitte, Chamberlain Mussina/Kennedy. Like I said, Karstens’ stuff is very average, he doesn’t really have an edge over anyone in the pen right now.

What better option for a 6th starter (spot starter/long reliever) do they have? You don’t want to force Horne, McCutchen or Marquez into that role as of yet. Igawa? 12 starts only for Kennedy? Really? The guy right now IS the #5, as Joba won’t be in the rotation to start the year. That leaves Wang, Pettitte, Hughes, Moose and IAN. THAT IS YOUR ROTATION RIGHT NOW. He’s ticketed for much more than 12 starts. Kennedy is NOT the long man/spot starter. He is ticketed right now to be IN the rotation, and if for some reason he isn’t, he’s going to AAA to start full-time. They aren’t making him a spot starter/long reliever. Ain’t happening. That role will be most likely Karstens’ or Rasner’s. In order to keep the innings of the Big 3 down, they will NEED a spot starter in the 6 spot to bypass Joba (if he goes to the rotation later), Hughes and Kennedy every so often.

Karstens had a BROKEN LEG last year. I’d like to see some people pitch with a broken leg. His ST last year was outstanding before he got hurt. We’re not talking about a 10 game winner here. We’re talking about someone who hopefully goes 9-6, 4.30. If he can do that, fine. If he pitches like he pitched this offseason for Team USA, he’ll be fine.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kennedy beat out Mussina for a spot in the rotation this season. I think his tank is more empty than most people thing it is. But if Kennedy doesn’t beat him out then having Kennedy in the pen eating up innings will do several things. It will provide him with ML experience while at the same time build up his arm strength, thus he will be more ready to be a major league starter whether it will be some time this season or next season, and “limiting” innings for him won’t be as big an issue as it is for the other young pitchers now. That’s why I don’t see him starting the season in the minors, being a former starter himself it wouldn’t be a problem for him to eat up those innings. His minor league numbers also show that he has been successful in the minors, so and he hasn’t had the injuries that someone like Karstens has had so there will be less doubt about his abilities as a pitcher at the major league level. He has also shown that he can pitch at the major league level with success so if Mussina fails as a starter or is injured, Kennedy will be right there to take over. But lets just wait to see how things turn out before we assume anything.

Matt, I agree. Karstens was o.k. this time out. If Kennedy doesn’t win a spot in the rotation, then he will most likely take up the load as an innings eater out of the pen. He is the best option they have. Karstens career minor league numbers are just o.k., and that makes me nervous.

At this point and time, Karstens hasn’t shown that he is better than what the Yanks currently have, in terms of career numbers. He’s far from the best option they have. No one has shown they will be able to take up the extra load if innings will be limited. Karstens’ fringe stuff may keep him from being the guy who takes up that extra load. That role most likely will go to Kennedy depending who wins that fifth spot in the starting rotation.

Couldn’t disagree with you more. His career stats in the minors have been at best fairly average. His stuff is very average, and very hittable as his career stats would indicate. He has always been considered a fringe prospect because he allows too many hits. The Yanks need people who can keep people off the bases. I wouldn’t put too much stock in what he did this past offseason. There’s no way Karstens is going to get 12 starts this season, that’s just a pipe dream. IF anything it will be guys like Rasner or Kennedy who will fill that role.

10 starts (to spell the big 3 and keep their innings down), 47 relief appearances, 9-6, 4.30? I’ll take that. Anyday. Can he do that? Who knows. But throw last year out the window. A broken leg is a broken leg.

Wrong, Martin. With the Yanks needing to limit the innings of the Big 3 (Joba, Hughes and Kennedy) due to youth, a 6th starter is necessary. Whoever they take, be it Karstens, Rasner or Igawa in the long relief/spot starter spot, will be asked to “fill in” for one of the big 3 in order that none of the big 3 exceeds 175 IP. Karstens had a great S.T. last year if you recall, before getting hurt at the end of it. No sooner did he come back from that injury than he had his leg broken. A wasted year. He had a very fine offseason pitching for Team USA and is still just 25 years old. Should Karstens get say, 12 starts and another 30 appearances in relief, go 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA, I’d take it. Mendoza-like. The Yanks will need that from either him, Rasner or Igawa….or someone else.

Karstens looked o.k., nothing special though. He’s going to have to pick it up if he hopes to make the Opening Day roster. Not surprised about Henn or Mussina. Still a long ways to go before Opening Day, hopefully these guys will do better.

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